A Season of Firsts!
ANDERSON TRUCKING SERVICE TAKES LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
In This Issue:
Rolling Along
Photo Contest
Read Me & Win
Picture Contest Winners
Thanks for Your Service
ATS Remembers
What’s News
Leech Lake Fishing Trip
MEC’s Improving the Process
ATSI Monster Truck
SBFX Mission, Vision &Values
Thanks for Your Service
Dining, Driver & Dialogue
Million Milestones
Driver Referral Contest
Thank You ATS
Autumn Features
Pictured L-R: (Front) Gail Simones, Keri Harstad-Burrow, Jody Plautz, Liv Jensen, Sam Eggert
(Back) Matt Haas, Kyle Jensen, Rich Phillips, Tom Berg, Brandon Plautz, David Rowe.
Helmet Safety
Why We Celebrate Columbus Day
Gigantic Pumpkins
Autumn Quotes
Ports of Call Word Jumble
Muskie Tips and Tricks…
Oktoberfest
On Thursday, July 26, the ATS Softball Team completed regular season play at Bob Cross Park
securing first place in the Co-Ed Green Division. This first place finish is the best ever in team
history and placed the team as the number one seed for play-offs that began on August 2.
ATS won all of its playoff games by outscoring its opponents 69-19 in three games leading to the
championship game on Thursday, August 23. Playoffs were double elimination, meaning ATS
needed to be defeated twice. Our first game in the championship ended up in a 6-5 loss in eight
innings. The team rallied in game two winning 7-2 in the final game of the season and ending as
league Champions. This season of firsts included our first place finish in league play, first season
in which we played 19 games, our best team record (12-2 regular season and 16-3 overall) and
our first ever league Championship.
(Continued on Page 14)
The Herald is published for the associates
of ATS. To submit articles for future
issues or to make comments, please call
320-255-7422 or E-mail:
[email protected]
Copyright © 2012, Anderson Trucking
Service, Inc. All rights reserved.
Page 2
Rolling Along
OWNER OPERATOR DREAMS– MANY PATHS TO
SUCCESS
Being an owner/operator and business owner
requires the desire to plan ahead and create
your own path to success. Competitive
Equipment Leasing offers Owner/Operators
several truck lease programs to choose from
according to what is best suitable for your
business plan and goals. Competitive Leasing
has multiple types of trucks and lease structures
to fit everyone’s success model.
Even King Arthur’s Knights
Wore Hard Hats!
Today, hard hats are worn by workers in many types of jobs. They
are also worn by football players, soldiers and bike riders.
Whether for work or play, they have an essential role in safety.
Competitive Leasing offers used truck models
from Peterbilt, Freightliner, and Volvo. For these
trucks there are two lease options. The most popular is a one (1) year
lease with an option to buy. This is a great program for Owner/Operators
to begin to build your business and it comes with a $4,000 completion
bonus!
Another used truck program that has become very popular over the last
18 months is called the Capital Lease. These leases range from 12-36
months with an option to purchase. Owner/Operators like this program
because they have the opportunity to gain greater equity in the truck
resulting in a lower buyout payment. For example, a $50,000 truck would
have a buyout of only $5,000!
It's not a new concept.
King Arthur's knights in shining armor wore metal helmets to
protect their heads. Ancient drawings depict people in headprotecting hats in the ancient civilizations of China, Egypt, Greece
and Rome.
Some Owner/Operators are looking for new equipment with the goal of
decreasing maintenance down-time. For those individuals, there are new
Freightliners available. Freightliner of St. Cloud and Truck Power offer ATS
Owner/Operators special pricing on new Coronado’s and Cascadia’s on a
four (4) year term with an option to purchase. This lease program is
known as the TAP Program and is the longest tenured program available
with over 15 years of success in leasing new trucks. Freightliner of St.
Cloud can also offer other lease plans on new and used trucks as well as
direct purchase options under our ATS preferred policy.
The first protective hats made by E.W. Bullard Company, a mining
equipment maker, were made of leather. When Bullard's son
returned from the First World War with a steel helmet, that
changed.
Owner/Operator success is achieved over time by increasing truck equity
each year and transferring that equity from truck to truck. Many
Owner/Operators believe they will ultimately reach success once they
operate without truck payments. Although this is a very appealing
concept, the reality is that as a truck ages so does the increased likelihood
that higher cost maintenance issues will occur. As a result, the
Owner/Operator will likely have more down-time that will eventually
erode profit margin. Perhaps an alternate model for success to strive for is
earning desirable profit each year while increasing truck equity and
maintaining or decreasing truck payments with each truck owned.
In the 1933 construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, all workers
had to wear safety helmets. Bullard also designed a helmet for
sandblasters with a shield in front, like a window, and a hose for
breathing.
If you are an Owner/Operator who is close to a buyout or owe nothing on
your truck, this is a perfect time to check out how much equity you have
and learn how one of these great programs can help you trade-up and
continue to grow your business. Isn’t it worth a call? For Competitive
Leasing, dial 320-255-7439 or 320-229-2399. For Freightliner of St. Cloud,
contact Mike Stinger at 320-251-0931 or 800-892-8542.
Scott Anderson, VP Safety and Claims
In more modern times, when famous writer Franz Kafka was with
Workers Accident Insurance in Bohemia, he was instrumental in
developing the protection hat in 1912, according to legendary
management icon Peter Drucker.
In 1938, the first aluminum hard hats were made. They were very
durable and fairly lightweight. These hats had one serious
drawback: aluminum is a great conductor of electricity.
In the 1950s and 1960s, thermoplastics became the newer
material. Manufacturers injected thermoplastic into a mold to
produce a hard hat.
Helmets are now made of a high density plastic. They have
features like earmuffs, extra ventilation, face-shields, sun visors,
linings for absorbing sweat and extra attachments like pagers,
radio, cameras or walkie-talkies.
Regardless of its composition and features, to get hard hat
protection...
You have to wear it!
Page 3
What’s News
ATS DRIVER LEECH LAKE FISHING TRIP
Earlier this year, ATS randomly selected 12 drivers for an all expense paid
trip to Leech Lake at Walker, MN.
The winners were:
Matt Reeves
James Dopp
Mark Durham
Calvin Welch
Thomas Quigley
Brian Beatty
Donald Freise
Bill Bigl
Kenneth Brown
Rodney Bartlett
Mark Zipf
Tony Marin
The trip was hosted by Hall of Fame fisherman, Ted Takasaki along with
senior management of ATS including CEO, Rollie Anderson. “ Everybody
had a great time and we caught lots of Walleyes in the 22" - 28" category.
Due to lake regulations, we practiced "CPR" on most of the fish. (Catch,
Photo, Release)” joked Oscar Kleman.
Donald Freise
Not only did the trip include private air charter, deluxe accommodations,
custom shirts, caps, rods and reels but ATS added one week's gross pay for
each driver. Oscar Kleman, VP of Driver Recruiting, put it best, "We wanted
each driver to relax, have fun and create memories. The week's pay helped
take the worry out of making a truck payment or paying bills at home. The
laughter from our boats is still echoing across the waters of Leech Lake.
After all, how often do you have the opportunity to spend time with the
CEO and find out he is just "one of the guys"?
"We have some new things planned for next year's trip…it's a tough act to
follow but it will be bigger and better than this year!“ added Oscar.
Mark Durham
Waiting to get going (L-R) Oscar Kleman, Ted Takasaki, Mark Zipf,
Tony Marin, Rodney Bartlett, Gary Stang, Brian Beatty, Calvin Welch and
Ken Brown.
(Continued on Page 8)
Ted Takasaki, Calvin Welch and ATS CEO, Rollie Anderson
Page 4
What’s News
ATSI MONSTER TRUCK
ATSI recently beefed up its tractor fleet with the addition of a model year
2013 Kenworth tractor C500 powered by a Cummins ISX with 600 horse
power. Some of the tractor specifications that makes this unit larger
than life are four-axles, 34,000 pound empty weight extended day cab
designed to perform the job of a “prime mover” as a push/pull truck that
can handle extreme or steep grades. The fifth wheel is 56” in height. This
monster can handle in excess of 325,000 gross vehicle weight at 12%
grade with its triple frame rail, 18 ply 12R24 tires, 37.4 CFM air
compressor and a stackable series of custom built ballast weights.
While bobtailing, it is able to move at highway speeds yielding 6.7 mpg
by utilizing the Allison Load Based Shift Scheduling. It carries 285 gallons
of diesel fuel. The drive line consists of a seven speed Allison automatic
transmission in front of a Spicer four-speed auxiliary transmission, driven
by Sisu planetary drive axles. The drive axles have cross lock feature for
distributing torque. As if that wasn’t enough power, we added the
Tuthill hydraulic traction assist to the front steer axle for additional
traction. The tractor was built off-line as a custom build for ATSI.
Drivers Name: ________________________ Truck # _____________
Page 5
What’s News
SUNBELT FURNITURE XPRESS – Mission-VisionValues
SunBelt has established itself as
a financially solid carrier,
focused on being a long term
provider for our current and
future customers. We have
marketed our stability,
profitability and growth
oriented focus to our customers
in order that they view SunBelt as a better value ranging from service,
ease of doing business with, shipping cost and the best carrier of choice
decision the customer can make. We have made a special effort to increase
our flexibility, limiting the times we could not meet the customers need
and focusing on ways to expand further into our customer’s supply chain.
The specialized furniture carrier industry has seen a number of carriers
close or consolidate in the past two years due to the weak housing market
and economy in general. SunBelt, with the backing of our parent company
ATS Inc, has taken the opportunity to acquire three companies that has
helped us increase the states we deliver to on a direct basis from 17 to 33
states in less than three years. We are seen within the home furnishings
industry as a dependable partner in the furniture supply chain for furniture
manufacturers, importers and retailers.
We strive to make sure our customers know when making a decision on
which carrier to select, that they see SunBelt Furniture Xpress as one who
they can build a delivery network with. We have been proactive in our
growth, aggressive to seize opportunities for expansion, committed to
making the necessary investments to deliver on our service commitments
and followed thru with our customers in serving their end line customer.
Our team has been successful in taking a traditional furniture carrier
operation, recognized as a dependable transportation provider and
long term leader and market this reputation to other industries.
We have seen solid success and greater commitments by our
non-traditional customers to use our services in supplementing their
company fleets, making warehouse transfers and dedicated routes
between suppliers and manufacturing facilities. Our goal is to expand
SunBelt’s footprint in the Southeast and Midwest by gaining customers
outside of our traditional furniture shippers. We believe that diversification
of our services, industries served and customer base positions SunBelt
Xpress well for the peaks and valleys that the home furnishing industry
cycles thru. We can leverage our density of equipment in the Southeast
and Midwest as well, so that non-furniture shippers can make greater use
of our fleet and at the same time open us up to new markets and
opportunities. Looking forward we are seeking to involve ourselves to a
greater degree in marketing SunBelt to the upper level decision makers
within our customer’s leadership so that everyone has a knowledge of our
company, knows the value in selecting SunBelt and places us as one of
their sought after providers.
SunBelt works to bring forward innovation in our operation to
reduce cost, increase customer satisfaction and process improvement.
One example is the video recording of freight being loaded on our trailers
whereby we stream the video to computer servers for reference in
(Continued on Page 6)
Why We Celebrate
Columbus Day
On April 8 of 2012, we recognize the
achievement of a great Renaissance
explorer who founded the first
permanent European settlement in
the New World. The arrival of
Christopher Columbus in 1492 marks
the beginning of recorded history in
the Americas.
Columbus Day celebrates the start of
a cultural exchange between
America and Europe. Millions of
European immigrants brought their
art, music, science, medicine,
philosophy and religious principles to America. Their contributions
have helped to shape the United States.
The day was first celebrated on October 12, 1792, when the New
York Society of Tammany honored Christopher Columbus on the
300th anniversary of his first voyage.
The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 in honor of the 400th
anniversary of Columbus' first voyage. In the same year, President
Benjamin Harrison declared October 12 to be a legal holiday.
America has more monuments to Columbus than any nation in the
world, according to the Christopher Columbus Encyclopedia. They
include a Columbus statue in Providence, R.I., cast by Frederic
Auguste Bertholdi, who created the Statue of Liberty. The large
statue of a standing and pointing Columbus is on a busy
intersection in Providence.
The United States has a significant collection of Columbus
memorabilia, including his desk, papers, and the cross he used to
claim the New World for Spain. These are in the Columbus Chapel in
Boalsburg, Pennsylvania.
In 1971, Columbus Day became a federal holiday in all 50 states
after Congress passed a law declaring the second Monday in
October to be celebrated as Columbus Day, rather than October 12.
Columbus: Upon Meeting the Native Peoples…
“I forbade that they should be given things so worthless as pieces of
broken crockery and broken glass, and lace points, although when
they were able to get them, they thought they had the best jewel in
the world.... And they know neither sect nor idolatry, with the
exception that all believe that the source of all power and goodness
is in the sky, and in this belief they everywhere received me, after
they had overcome their fear. And this does not result from their
being ignorant (for they are of a very keen intelligence and men
who navigate all those seas, so that it is wondrous the good
account they give of everything), but because they have never seen
people clothed or ships like ours.”
From Christopher Columbus voyage diaries
Page 6
What’s News
SUNBELT FURNITURE XPRESS – Mission-Vision-Values
regards to proper piece count being handled, claim free loading and
improved stacking to maximize cube use in the trailer. We work with our
consolidation customers where we pick up raw materials for distribution to
optimize the routes along production schedules and at the same time
reduce our pick up miles.
We are currently implementing a software system called CrossDock which
will increase our loading efficiency, load planning and improve our on-time
service by giving us greater visibility of shipments available for loading and
delivery. We will have full visibility across our warehouses located in
Hickory, NC; Dallas, TX and Fontana, CA from several points of view. SunBelt
has also initiated automatic customer notification of shipments being
picked up and will eventually put in place a system that sends an
mail notification to the consignee of when their shipment will be delivered.
Leadership at SunBelt continues to review our local and fleet dispatch,
customer service, warehouse operations and marketing strategy to deliver
positive results and value for our company and our customers. We are
viewed favorably among our customers as a carrier that operates with
integrity due to our actions, communication and representatives we put in
front of the customer from the sales representative, driver and customer
service representatives. Despite a “furniture depression” and the weak
economy in general we have maintained a high level of determination to
establish our company as a market leader, position ourselves for growth
and profitability thru hard work, decisiveness in our mission to be the best
specialized furniture carrier and to insure our future for our associates and
customers.
We have a responsibility to our customers, our associates and
suppliers that SunBelt will be a valued partner, provider and employer in
that we must operate with innovation, integrity, determination and at a
level of excellence to maintain our position as a leading transportation
provider. We work to provide an excellence of service in every step of the
shipping & delivery process and recognize those associates who make this
work in their efforts to meet the needs and objectives of our customers and
our company.
(Continued at top of Page)
Our service, quality, stability and flexibility work to build
customer confidence and continue our relationship with our
customers. We continually strive to improve in these areas to
grow a profitable and ethical trucking operation.
Gigantic Pumpkins Hit Fall Festivals
The day of the Great Pumpkin has arrived. The growing of
Brobdingnagian (gigantic) pumpkins has become a new
phenomenon.
A giant pumpkin was once considered in the 75 pound range. In
2010, a 1,810.5 pound "gourd" made the Guinness World's
Records as the heaviest pumpkin ever recorded. This record was
broken last October when a father and daughter team, Jim and
Kelly Bryson, of Canada, (pictured below) produced one weighing
in at 1,818.5 pounds.
How do you grow such a titanic pumpkin? You need the right
seeds and soil, lots of organic matter, at least 130 days for growth
and maturity, the right amount of water and careful tending.
Colossal-sized pumpkins can gain up to 50 pounds a day; some
growers claim they can actually hear them grow. Researchers at
Georgia Tech note that, as such pumpkins grow, they morph from
spheres to pancakes. The flattening allows them to distribute
internal stresses, the only way they can grow to such 'ginormous'
proportions without cracking.
Why are such pumpkins becoming a lucrative business? Because
Halloween festivals will pay by the pound to feature them as a
crowd draw.
Page 7
What’s News
DINING, DRIVERS & DIALOGUE
The driver lunches for drivers who are visiting in St Cloud and some of
the ATS senior management continue to be a success. These lunches are
held each week on Tuesday and Thursday. Members of the
management team rotate their participation at these meetings.
Management Team members are Rollie Anderson, Brent Anderson, Scott
Anderson, Jake Wood, Gary Stang and Jeff Potthoff. All drivers and
operators who happen to be in St Cloud on those days are welcome to
attend these meetings. This venue allows ATS management to share
what’s new at ATS with driving staff, while gathering feedback and
concerns from drivers about equipment, loads, communication, facilities
and business in general. Drivers and contractors can make
arrangements to attend these meetings while checking in with the
Safety Department in St Cloud.
Below are some action items that have been taken as a result of these
lunches.
The Second Quarter “Herald” was mailed to driver homes. We have
received enthusiastic responses from drivers and their significant others
regarding this.
The driver facility in Houston is up and running. This facility is open 7
days per week, 24 hours per day.
Drivers and contractors have asked how to get reimbursed for trailer
lights that are purchased on the road. The reimbursement procedure for
trailer lights is the same, whether you are a company driver or a
contractor. If the expense is under $25, a store receipt is needed for
reimbursement. If the cost is over $25, a Purchase Order Number (P.O.)
from Road Service, as well as a store receipt are required for
reimbursement.
Drivers have voiced concerns about Bridgestone tires wearing faster.
Maintenance is aware of this issue on steer. All company shops are now
using Michelin XZA3+ steer tires or the new R283 Bridgestone tire that
was just introduced.
Some drivers have asked “When is ATS Specialized going to become
stronger at finding southbound freight from western Canada?” Jim
Hunnicutt, 18+ year sales representative formerly based out of Houston,
TX has relocated to Calgary, AB, Canada. Jim gained his official work visa
just yesterday! Now we are ready to continue to use Jim’s relationships
with existing Houston customers for northbound but in addition, look
for southbound opportunities. As you can imagine we are not the only
U.S. based carrier that is hauling northbound but trying to build
southbound. Also, Canadian based carriers have had long standing
relationships with Canadian shippers sending their trucks back into the
states.
This will be an investment in time, energy, and people capital but we are
confident eventually we will have many more southbound hauling
opportunities then we do today. The ATS Specialized strategy is to be
the most sought after specialized transportation provider in North
America!
(Continued at Top of Page)
Getting trucks positioned back to southern TX so we could build
market out of Mexico use to be a huge challenge until we focused
resources on it. We are confident with our new focus on
southbound Canada loads, our ever increasing Canadian
compliant driver force, our C-TPAT and CSA Certifications, and
recently added load levelers (to allow pipe loads on step decks),
that we will be successful in this objective. We are very confident
in Jim and the rest of the sales people to accomplish this.
Please watch for more feedback from these lunches in future
editions of “The Herald”.
Autumn Quotes
“The foliage has been losing its freshness through the month of
August, and here and there a yellow leaf shows itself like the first
gray hair amidst the locks of a beauty who has seen one season
too many.”
~Oliver Wendell Holmes
“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”
~Albert Camus
“For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together.
For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad. ”
~Edwin Way Teale
“It was one of those perfect English autumnal days which occur
more frequently in memory than in life.”
~P.D. James
“Bittersweet October. The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect
pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter.”
~Carol Bishop Hipps
“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a
bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive
autumns. ”
~George Eliot
No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees, no fruits, no flowers,
no leaves, no birds - November!
~Thomas Hood, "No!"
“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil
painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.”
~Stanley Horowitz
“No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace as I have seen in
one autumnal face.”
~John Donne
“Oh how we love pumpkin season. You did know this gourd-ish
squash has its own season, right? Winter, Spring, Summer,
Pumpkin.... We anxiously anticipate it every year.”
~ Trader Joes Fearless Flyer, October 2010
Page 8
What’s News
ATS DRIVER LEECH LAKE FISHING TRIP (Continued)
Jim Dopp
Ted Takasaki and Bill Bigl
Ken Brown
Tony Marin
Mark Zipf
Tom Quigley
(Continued on Next Page)
Page 9
What’s News
ATS DRIVER LEECH LAKE FISHING TRIP (Continued)
Rodney Bartlett and Ted Takasaki
Matt Reeves
How do we find all those qualified drivers?
Brian Beatty
Chase on the Lake, Leech Lake
The sun sets on a wonderful trip!
Page 10
What’s News
FISHING TRIP WINNING DRIVER BIOS
Thomas Quigley
Virginia
Driver Type:
Company – Flats
Fleet Manager, Gary Schloeder – Comments: Tom has two children. He
is a veteran of the Air Force that includes four years of service as a jet
engine mechanic. He is one of the19-axle drivers and also transports
wind towers. Tom is very level headed and can effectively work
through problems. He takes great pride in a clean truck and maintains
one of the most polished trucks on the fleet.
William (Mark) Durham
Tennessee
Driver Type:
Owner/Operator – Vans
Fleet Manager, Keenan Schuldt - Comments: Mark is an Army
veteran. He has three children, one daughter and two sons. His
hobbies include Ham radios, camping and pretty much anything
outdoors. He is very down to earth.
William (Matt) Reeves
Louisiana
Driver Type:
Company – Flats
Fleet Manager, Chuck Maxwell – Comments: Matt has two little girls.
He likes to fish and hunt and loves LSU Tiger Football. He is a quiet
person and a good guy. He is a good driver and represents ATS very
well.
Bill Bigl
Mississippi
Driver Type:
Owner/Operator - Vans
Fleet Manager, Jay Johnson – Comments: Bill is married with two girls.
Bill and his wife enjoy playing Texas Hold’em cards. Bill is a no
nonsense, hard working guy.
James (Jim) Dopp
Tennessee
Driver Type:
Owner/Operator – Flats
Fleet Manager, Tara Bayerl - Comments: Jim is married with two young
children. He has a son that is in gymnastics and his daughter enjoys
dance. Jim likes to scuba dive. He is a reliable and hard working
individual.
Donald Freise
Oklahoma
Driver Type:
Owner/Operator – Flats
Fleet Manager, Kari Algaard - Comments; Don is married and has two
children and just recently became a grandpa. Don is easy going and
enjoys the outdoors. He is a good representative of ATS and does what
needs to be done to take care of business.
Rodney Bartlett, Jr.
Texas
Driver Type:
Owner/Operator – Flats
Fleet Manager, Lori Thran – Comments: Rodney has a great personality
– honest, fun, and goes with the flow. He is married and has a
daughter, son, step-son and grandson. A favorite hobby is fishing.
Mark Zipf
Minnesota
Driver Type:
Company – Flats
Fleet Manager, Christine Calhoun – Comments: Mark has many grown
children and grandchildren. He enjoys fishing. He carries a fly fishing
pole in his truck and stops to fish when he can. Mark has an enjoyable
personality and is easy to talk to. He is a driver you can ask to do
anything and does not complain.
James “Calvin” Welch
South Carolina
Driver Type:
Owner/Operator – Van
Fleet Manager, Jay Johnson – Comments: Calvin and his wife Melissa,
have four children and one grandson. He is an avid dirt bike rider, a
hobby he shares with his son. Calvin enjoys boating so much that
when he eventually retires from ATS, he plans to buy a boat which he
can live on. Calvin is very upbeat and fun to be around. Calvin has lots
of energy and is a hard worker.
Tony Marin
Michigan
Driver Type:
Company – Vans
Fleet Manager, Jamie Powell – Comments: Tony has been married 32
years. He worked in ATS Specialized for 10 years before he moved to
the Van Division. His funniest story is when he was working in ATS
Specialized. He was talking to his dispatcher when he noticed
someone making coffee and he asked who that “old guy” was. The
dispatcher said that is Harold. Tony asked, “Harold Who?” It was ATS
founder Harold Anderson! He likes to joke, and is a real good guy.
Brian Beatty
Oklahoma
Driver Type:
Owner/Operator – Flats
Fleet Manager, Scott Olson – Comments: Brian is married with three
children. He loves fishing especially noodling for catfish. The biggest
one he caught weighed about 85 lbs. He also loves pig hunting. He has
a wiener dog named “Bruiser”. He loves dogs and has about 12 dogs at
home that help hunt pigs. Brian has always driven for a living and
loves driving for ATS. He is a team worker. He has a lot of experience
and is very knowledgeable and maintains a positive attitude.
Ken Brown
Indiana
Driver Type:
Owner/Operator – Flats
Fleet Manager, Scott Olson – Comments: Ken has been driving for
about nine years. He is married and has three children, along with
several step-children. Ken is a huge football fan, loves the San Diego
Chargers and Notre Dame. He is very confident in his abilities as a
driver and freely shares information he feels could be helpful to others.
Ken is a good guy.
ATTENTION ALL DRIVERS
Complete the Word Jumble on Page 4, by Oct 15.
And send to: [email protected] or
Mail to: ATS
725 Opportunity Drive
St Cloud, MN 56301
Attn: The Herald
We will draw 5 names and award our Folding camp Chair.
Last quarter winners: Brad Rider #16217 and Russ Berg #72254
Page 11
Read Me & Win
Muskie Tips and Tricks
By Ted Takasaki and Scott Richardson
The "Read Me and Win" Contest
is open to ATS Employees and
Contractors. Correct entries will
receive one of the ATS Stars and
Stripes caps, pictured below or
the new Fall caps when they arrive.
Thanks and keep on reading “The Herald”!
And the winners are...
Joe Newman – Vans Pad Wrap #35761
Phil Towne – ATS Specialized #82171
James Lisenby – ATS Specialized #82171
Louis Fulmore – ATS Specialized #72184
Marc Williams – ATS Specialized #72518
Russ Berg – ATS Specialized #72254
Joe Salas - ATS Laredo Terminal
Jeffery Lombardo – ATS Specialized #82339
Nikki Neumiller – ATS Specialized Settlements
Deb Carlson – Mailroom
Melissa Rieland – ATS Specialized Routing & Permits
Brooks Anderson – ATS Logistics
John Pekarek – Heavy Haul Permits
Marty Hanley - Safety
Ryan Morse – ATS Specialized
Theressa Taylor – ATS Logistics
Russ Walters – ATS Logistics
Brad Rider – ATS Specialized #16217
Mike Goode – ATS Specialized #82293
Anita Tomala – Safety
Jenny Thommes – ATS Specialized Permits
Ryan Willis – Claims
Brian Knox – ATS Vans
Greta Tieman – ATS Logistics
Jonathon Schave – Heavy Haul
Megan Farrow – ATS Specialized
Ronald Putt – ATS Specialized #72507
It’s just fine with Muskie expert Trent Lehner that many anglers
chasing big fish concentrate on big waters like Mille Lacs, Lake
Vermillion, or Leech Lake. Certainly, Mille Lacs and Vermillion
have been giving up monster Muskies for years. Still, ask Lehner
where he likes to fish and he’ll rattle off names like Little Boy,
Wabedo and Mantrap. Those are the kinds of smaller, lesserknown, less-pressured waters he likes to focus on, and he gives
nothing up in the size department when he does.
Over the July 4th weekend a few years ago, Lehner boated a 55inch fish from a 1,400-acre lake about an hour north of Brainerd.
He’d been chasing that fish for four years.
It was his second 55-inch Muskie in a year.
“Those fish (in smaller lakes) are a little bit smarter,” says Lehner,
“but if you keep reading about Muskie fishing, learn new things, it
pays off in the long run if you put in the effort. I’m having my best
year yet by staying on small lakes.”
Convincing people to share the names of small lakes that produce
big Muskies isn’t easy. Nor should it be. Trophy Muskies are a
fragile resource that must be protected. But Lehner gives us a
hint. The process, for him, starts by paying attention to postings
on the Internet, reading Muskie magazines, map books, and
Department of Natural Resources profiles of every lake he can. He
mainly focuses on the results of fishing surveys.
“How many fish were caught in the DNR survey nets?” he asks. “If
it has great numbers, you’ll catch lots of fish, and eventually you’ll
catch a big fish.”
Next, Lehner targets the lakes at peak times, like full and new
moon phases. That’s when the big fish are more likely to give
away their location. He’ll return at off-peak times, too, to see if the
Muskie will follow his lure and confirm that’s where she lives.
Knowing her address is at least half the challenge.
“If you raise it,” says Lehner, “then you know that fish is a home
body.”
This Issue’s Contest Questions!
What was the weight of 2011 World Record pumpkin? ______________
How many Drivers went on the Leech Lake Fishing trip? _____
What was the score of the final softball game? ________
Good Luck. The answers can be found within the articles of this
Herald Online edition. Send your answers to:
Anderson Trucking Service, Inc.,
PO Box 1377, St. Cloud, MN 56302-1377
Attn: Read Me and Win Contest
or E-Mail your answers NOW to: [email protected].
Remember to include your name, truck number and division (if
applicable) in the E-mail.
The specific areas where Lehner targets his efforts will depend
upon the habitat of the lake. The choice boils down to weeds or
rocks. With weeds, it’s a matter of identifying edges and casting
parallel along them. A GPS helps by drawing the outline of the
breakline (drop-off) on the screen. By looking at the display, you
can see points and inside turns that hold fish. Look for places
where two kinds of weeds meet, signaling a change in bottom
content that can enrich the food chain at that point.
(continued on next page)
Page 12
Photo Contest
Muskie Tips and Tricks
OVER $19,000 HAS BEEN GIVEN AWAY...
HAVE YOU GOTTEN YOUR SHARE?
We’re looking for new photos to be used on our website and in
other corporate advertising and collateral materials. This includes
pictures of any ATS divisions.
(Continued)
If big Muskies still play hide and seek, Lehner moves inside the
edges and fishes over the top edge of the weeds. Again, he looks
for places where a different type of weed may rise higher in the
water column than the surrounding bed.
Prizes:
1st - $100.00
2nd - $80.00
3rd - $60.00
Photos need to include the ATS truck and/or load. Creativity is
encouraged. All photos submitted will be considered. Photos
may include standard truck shots, action photos, pictures
involving trucks on the road, at a weigh station, or truck stop etc.
Rules
This contest is open to all employees and drivers (Owner Operators,
Company and Leased).
Send your color prints with your name and truck number clearly
printed on the back, to:
Anderson Trucking Service, Inc.
PO Box 1377
St. Cloud, MN 56302-1377
Attn: Photo Contest
High resolution digital photos are preferred and can be submitted
provided they are high resolution (mega-pixels). These files should
be sent via email to:
[email protected] .
ATS reserves the right to use the photos electronically or in any
printed publication. A representative of the Internet Committee
will judge the photos and their decision shall be final. All photos
will be considered as they are received.
All submitted photos become the property of ATS and will not be
returned. ATS reserves the right to discontinue or modify the
contest at any time.
Muskies are being found in more and unusual spots, like this one
caught by Ted Takasaki from “the bay of Green Bay.”
Here’s another key to watch for: Muskies in weeds will sometimes
be very aggressive in eating a lure. But sometimes they’ll just
swim after it and close their mouth over it. To an angler on the
other end, the sensation can feel like nothing more than when a
lure gets fouled in a weed.
“Set the hook on everything,” advises Lehner.
With rocks, it’s not enough just to have gravel. Lehner looks for
places that feature boulders where Muskies hide in between the
cracks that separate them to ambush prey. He casts so his lure
finds the crack, he lets it fall and then he reels it right back over
any waiting fish’s head.
(continued on next page)
Page 13
What’s News
MEC’s IMPROVING THE PROCESS
Muskie Tips and Trucks
(Continued)
The MEC (Material Equipment Control) staff at the ATS West Shop has
the responsibility of controlling our cost of tie down and accessorial
equipment for lease operators and the company as a whole, as well as
managing Prepasses and maintaining the inventory of
communications devices for the entire fleet. One of their assignments
is to negotiate the best possible price for all equipment.
“They are just waiting,” he says, “for something to pass by.”
Over the past six months the price has gone down on over 40% of the
equipment types that are purchased. For example, the cost of 3/8”
chain went down $19 and the cost of tarps went down $48. These
savings are passed on to lease operators as they purchase equipment
through ATS. Another area of their responsibility is to keep track of
equipment that has been issued to ensure that it is not lost or stolen.
The MEC shop at ATS West was started in 2009 in answer to MEC costs
in 2008 of over $1 million. Much of this cost was due to lack of
administrative attention, poor quality inventories and purchasing that
was not cost effective. Since that time, the MEC staff has put
procedures in place that have significantly reduced lost and stolen
equipment as well as improved purchasing.
Lehner starts the year using smaller bucktails, but quickly moves
to larger bucktails and spinnerbaits like the M&G. Rad dogs go
deep. M&Gs are for shallower areas, he said.
Million Milestones
Every now and then something happens that
truly warrants our attention. At ATS, it is our
“Million Mile Drivers”. It is hard enough for
most of us to drive our car yearly without
getting a ticket or into an accident and these
drivers do it while hauling up to 200,000 lbs or
more behind a semi truck. Here is the driver who received their Million
Mile an Mile Award in the last quarter. CONGRATULATIONS!
Walter Hooper
ATS Specialized
ATTENTION ALL DRIVERS
Complete the Word Jumble on Page 4, by Oct 15.
And send to: [email protected] or
Mail to: ATS
725 Opportunity Drive
St Cloud, MN 56301
Attn: The Herald
We will draw 5 names and award our Folding camp Chair.
Last quarter winners: Brad Rider #16217 and Russ Berg #72254
He likes to keep the boat in about 13 to 15 feet of water and cast
to about 7 feet. When he feels his lure contacted a rock, out
comes the hook sharpening file. Hunting Muskies over 50 inches
is no time to lose a fish from a dull hook.
Bulldogs are a terrific go-to bait when nothing else seems to work,
he said. Let them fall to the weed tops and jerk them back to the
boat. “They can’t resist it,” Lehner said.
He tries to gauge the mood of a big fish that follows. Slow,
lethargic fish are left alone for another day or a time when
conditions improve, such as the approach of a rainstorm or a
change in wind direction and strength. Some people swear by
low-light conditions, but Lehner isn’t one of them. His 55-inch fish
have come in bright sunlight.
One final tip that can help turn followers into biters. When a “hot”
fish turns off his jerkbait, Lehner tosses back an M&G. “They’ll just
crush it,” he said.
Note: Takasaki is teaming up with Anderson Trucking Service to
offer fishing tips to the company’s drivers, along with the chance
to win all-expenses-paid fishing trips with the Hall of Fame angler.
Ted’s Tips are found at www.drive4ats.com, along with
information on joining this industry leader, founded in 1955.
Interested drivers can also call 1-855-JOIN-ATS.
Page 14
What’s News
Time For Oktoberfest!
A SEASON OF FIRSTS
(continued from Page 1)
The 2012 season was our best and most successful to date. A brief
history of the team shows that since the 2004 season ATS has finished
in 3rd place in league play each year with the exception of the 2010
season where we finished 4th. In 2008, the squad finished the season
as the Consolation Champions and in 2011 we placed 2nd in playoffs
after reaching the championship bracket for the first time in team
history.
The 2012 Squad:
Tom Berg Bryan Burrow Sam Eggert Matt Haas
Keri Harstad-Burrow
Kyle Jensen
Liv Jensen
Katie Krantz
Christa Kurtz
Gary McCann
Richard Phillips
Jody Plautz
Brandon Plautz
David Rowe
Gail Simones
Jennifer Swan
Left & Right Center/ Team Manager
Pitcher
Right Field
Right Center Field
Left field/Assistant Team Manager
Short Stop
Third Base
Right Field/ Second Base
Second Base
Pitcher
Pitcher
Catcher
Left Center Field
First Base
Second Base
Left Field
Thank You For Your Service!
Congratulations to the following employees who have recently
retired from ATS:
Gordon Gustafson, Regional Account Representative for ATS
Logistics for over eight years, retired June 1, 2012.
James “Rod” Ireland retired on August 3, 2012. Rod drove for ATS
Specialized for over twenty-three years.
Floyd Austin, ATS Inc. Van driver, retired on August17, 2012. Floyd
drove for ATS since 2001.
ATS Remembers
Patrick “Pat” Olberding, passed away July 3, 2012. Pat worked for
ATS Specialized as a driver on the Granite Fleet.
Susan Bechel, Owner-Operator with ATS Specialized, passed
away July 10th, 2012.
Richard G. Medrano, former terminal manager in Gary,
IN/Lansing, IL, passed away July 17th 2012.
Ed “Sir Edward” Supan, passed away September 12, 2012. Ed
worked for ATS Specialized as a driver on the Granite Fleet.
Please join us in extending our condolences to the friends and
loved ones of Pat, Susan, Richard and Ed.
People do enjoy ethnic celebrations and festivals. They don't have
to be Irish to enjoy a St. Patrick's Day Parade, Mexican to enjoy a
big fiesta, or Swedish to dine at a St. Lucia Day smorgasbord.
That’s why Oktoberfests have become so popular. And with more
than 50 million Americans of German descent, it’s no wonder
there are literally hundreds of festivals, both large and small,
throughout the United States and Canada.
Visitors and locals alike enjoy the lederhosen-clad dancers, folk
costumes, oompah bands and, especially, the Bavarian foods and
beer.
The United States boosts one of the largest Oktoberfest in the
world. Cincinnati, Ohio, has been celebrating its Oktoberfest
Zinzinnati since 1976 and attracts over 500,000 visitors each year.
And Snowbird’s Oktoberfest is one of the largest festivals in Utah.
Between October 5 and 12, 2012, Ontario, Canada’s "Greatest
Bavarian Festival," in Kitchener-Waterloo, attracts over 700,000
visitors. It combines its German traditions with its Canadian
Thanksgiving Day.
Oktoberfest takes place between mid-September and late
October. In Germany, it is a two-week celebration that begins in
September, because the weather is better in September and the
home-brewed beer is fresher.
The first Oktoberfest began on October 12, 1810, to celebrate the
marriage of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and his bride.
A good share of the Oktoberfest attendees are there to enjoy the
German beer, grilled bratwurst and frankfurters, hot German
potato salad, big pretzels, wienerschnitzel and apple strudel.
Page 15
What’s News
HAITI ORPHANAGE BUS ARRIVES
On May 5th, 2012 ATS Specialized donated a driver’s time and other resources for Dr. Henri Lanctin VP of Project Haiti. Project Haiti was the
recipient of a bus donated by Hoglund Bus Company. Our driver drove the school bus from Monticello, MN to Santee Shipping Lines in
Miami, FL. Our driver safely arrived with the bus on May 7th. With the help of ATS International, the school bus was exported to Haiti where
it will be used by an orphanage.
Page 16
July
1st Place $100
Dan Gladu - 16155
2nd Place $80
Charles Whitman - 54106
3rd Place $60
David Parker - 11164
Page 17
August
1st Place $100
Larry Thompson – 81903
2nd Place $80
Imre Bogdan - 72111
3rd Place $60
Frank Blair - 11140
Page 18
September
1st Place $100
Ron Still - 11115
2nd Place $80
Louis Fulmore - 72184
3rd Place $60
Leesa Bainum – ATS Wind Permits